1

Press Release | Hong Kong 30 September 2017

Media Enquiries Fay Pang | fay@suttonpr.com | +852 2528 0792

Jessica Chen | jchen@polyauction.com.hk | +852 2303 9892 Fatima Lam | flam@polyauction.com.hk | +852 2303 9891

Poly Auction Hong Kong 2017 Autumn Auctions Media Preview

Auctions and Preview | 30 September – 3 October

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong

Poly Auction Hong Kong Proudly Presents over 1,500 Pieces of Artworks

Pre-Sale Estimation Exceeds 1 Billion Hong Kong Dolloars

As a key member of Poly Auction, Poly Auction Hong Kong undertakes thorough academic research to select

the very best auction lots and presents special thematic exhibitions of the highest quality. The fifth anniversary

of Poly Auction Hong Kong‟s Autumn Auctions will be held between 30 September and 3 October 2017 at the

Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Carefully selected and rarely seen works from different departments including

Modern and Contemporary Art, Chinese Contemporary Ink Paintings, Classical Chinese Paintings and

Calligraphy, Fine Modern Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, Jewels and

Prestige Collections will be gratefully presented in respect of local and overseas collectors‟ continuous support.

Introduction of Highlight Lots

In this year‟s Autumn Auctions, Modern and Contemporary Art presents both Eastern and Western

masterpieces and the different visual thinking between the two: from the West, „Untitled‟ by Jean-Michel

Basquiat, a monumental figure in Western Contemporary Art; from the East, „24.3.59-31.12.59‟, an

extraordinary work by Chinese-French master Zao Wou-Ki. The leading work in the Wu Guanzhong special

auction „The Great Fall of Tanzania‟ is one of the most significant works painted by the artist in such a large

size in the 1970s. Furthermore, the auction will introduce „Guilin‟, „Rice Paddies of Central Sichuan‟, „Mountain

Rocks of Guilin‟, and „Beyond the Horizon‟, showing progressive journey in Wu Guanzhong‟s 30 years of

artistic creation. Works of Lin Fengmian, Chu Teh-Chun, alongside signature works of 20th Century

predecessors Zhang Chongren, Wang Yachen, Li Shichao, and Zhou Bichu, offering a comprehensive

overview of the evolvement of Chinese Modern art history.

Paintings by Zeng Fanzhi, Zhang Xiaogang and Liu Xiaodong, manifesting the great diversity of Chinese

Contemporary art, will be shown alongside three of Yayoi Kusama‟s rarely seen signature pieces, as well as

Modern and Contemporary Art

2

other Asian contemporary artist such as Park Seo-bo, Shimamoto Shôzô, Chen Wen Hsi, and Cheong Soo

Pieng.

Lot 181 ZAO WOU-KI

24.03.59-31.12.59

Painted in 1959

Oil on canvas

162.3 x 99.5 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 40,000,000 - 60,000,000

Today, as we speak of Zao Wou-Ki's successes and innovations in 20th-century art, we can perhaps refer to

his works in the "Klee" period and the "oracle-bone inscription" period as an "external orientalization” period.

During the first period, Zao expressed his thoughts and feelings by working Klee-like images into figurative

compositions, and in the later "oracle-bone" period, in abstract works that featured written character motifs. But

the most important transitional period in his career was undoubtedly his departure, after 1957, from works

employing oracle-bone motifs. The total abstraction that followed, allowed for even more direct expression; as

Zao Wou-Ki noted, "It was no longer necessary, like before, to paint objects or symbols within the spaces of

my canvases; there was no need to place boundaries on my themes or my colours. I also became aware of the

issue of spatial depth as I explored different combinations of hues." It was at this point that Zao Wou-Ki

entered his period of "inner Easternization." His brushwork and lines gained the freedom they needed to truly

express, on their own, all of the artist's moods and ideas; his colours and his compositional spaces, embodying

traditional Chinese aesthetics, now more directly evoked a visual and emotional response in the viewer.

The innovations found in „24.03.59-31.12.59‟ embody this crucial juncture between past and future in his

career; it is a milestone in the "fusion of Eastern and Western aesthetics" that was the hallmark of this period in

art.

3

Lot 187

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

Untitled

Painted in 1984

Acrylic and oilstick on canvas

183 x 122 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 30,000,000 - 50,000,000

In the 1980s, Basquiat held his first solo show in a museum in New York marking the peak of his career as the

most mythic and legendary contemporary artist. Made in the same year, his work „Untitled‟ undoubtedly

testifies to the moment when he made diverse and mature shifts in style. The rich texture of the oil and acrylic

and the freely wandering lines created by the oil sticks exhibit bright, bold colour applications and unruly

strokes created with explosive force, clearly disclosing the artist‟s confidence and dash. The figure‟s facial

expression in „Untitled‟ comes from Picasso‟s cubist construction; the emphasis on the details of the features

and the form reveal traits of traditional masks of African cultures. Basquiat was seriously wounded after a car

accident in his childhood; his mother gave him a book titled „Gray‟s Anatomy‟ when he was recovering in

hospital. The experience and the anatomic pictures in the book cast a profound influence on him, which is also

reflected in the analysis and depiction of the body in „Untitled‟. The red and blue lines seem to respectively

represent arteries and veins. Basquiat‟s fast and sure lines also symbolize the running of blood. Though the

diverse metaphors of signs and the appropriation of forms in „Untitled‟, the artist highlighted particulars of the

time and cross-cultural intersections through image-writing involved with personal experience. It indeed sums

up Basquiat‟s art in its maturity and implies his unusual legendary life filled with ups and downs.

Wu Guanzhong

Poly Auction Hong Kong will present a diverse range of themes in Wu‟s works, revealing an ever evolving style

and expression method from the 1970s to 1990s. Among his variety of rich themes, many began as a direct

sketching of scenery. He also accessed new themes by traveling across thousands of miles of mountains and

water, effectively following an ancient legacy, which can be described as “creating a draft by searching across

mountain peaks.” From there, the artist‟s self-confidence in his personal techniques and solid foundation can

also be witnessed.

4

Lot 177 WU GUANZHONG The Great Fall of Tanzania Painted in 1975

Oil on canvas

100.3 x 179.6 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 36,000,000 - 56,000,000

„The Great Fall of Tanzania‟, dating from 1975, is one of the earliest works that marks the beginning of Wu's

“silver-grey” period. This kind of large-scale oil is rarely seen in his early oils, the Victoria Falls depicted in it is

one of the three greatest waterfalls of the world, and is actually a group of falls formed from five separate

waterfalls. They fall directly down from the extremely wide and flat riverbed above, producing an enveloping

mist and a thunderous roar. The dimensions of Wu's canvas highlight the spectacular grandeur of the falls, and

the imposing power of his work seems to invite the viewer to step into and experience the spaces within the

canvas. As in a scene described by poet Li Bai, in his View of Waterfall from the High Cliffs, "High above, white

falls break the cliffs, surrounded by the Danxia landform. Spray shoots towards the dragon pool below, day and

night are full of wind and thunder."

It was in the 1970s that Wu Guanzhong perfected his technique of a unified tonal palette in the oil medium;

here, he applies white pigments over the black and grey hues that appear in the rocks beside the cliffs of the

waterfall. The colour of the quickly flowing water contrasts sharply with the weighty tones of the cliff sides. In

„The Great Fall of Tanzania‟ we find contrasts of light and shadow and a language of form derived from

Western painting, but also the traditional Chinese relation between form and empty space. The rich artistic

quality of the painting represents one of Wu Guanzhong's great achievements in merging Eastern and Western

forms of painting.

Lot 179 WU GUANZHONG Guilin Painted in 1991

Oil on canvas, mounted on board

44 x 53 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 15,000,000 -

25,000,000

5

In 1972, Wu Guanzhong and his wife travelled to Guiyang to visit his mother-in-law. The scenery of Guilin

would become an important theme for Wu Guanzhong‟s paintings. Guilin was painted in 1991. In the 1990s,

Wu Guanzhong‟s exploration and skills in scenery painting reached a new level of harmony and maturity. This

work gives us a glimpse into the depiction and perception of Guilin by Wu after his style underwent years of

accumulated growth and maturity. With a mainly light green color, the picture is also paired with white, yellow,

red, black and other changing colors. Color might seem to be scattered randomly. But, with strict and careful

consideration, it creates a bright and vibrant rhythm to the picture, while at the same time conveying the

staggered vitality of a humanities and natural scenery, showing the beauty of form by "alternation of regularity

and irregularity ". In his creation, the painter deletes complex things for simplification - summing up complex

objects and tempering them into a simple, quiet beauty. In a limited frame, it shows the infinite content to

express beyond the visual experience of the beauty of abstract music, thus conveying the artist's

understanding of the natural universe and inner feelings.

Lot 178

WU GUANZHONG Rice Paddies of Central Sichuan

Painted in 1979

Oil on cardboard

25.4 x 35.3 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 4,800,000 - 6,800,000

Lot 180

WU GUANZHONG Mountain Rocks of Guilin

Painted in 1975

Gouache on paper

39.3 x 35.5 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 3,000,000 -

4,600,000

Lot 176

WU GUANZHONG Beyond the Horizon

Painted in 1998

Oil on linen

92.3 x 60.1 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 5,000,000 -

7,000,000

6

Yayoi Kusama

Lot 188

YAYOI KUSAMA Mt. FUJI (QPWE) Painted in 2005

Acrylic on canvas

91 x 116.7 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 7,000,000 - 8,000,000

Lot 189

YAYOI KUSAMA Dots & Dots (QASTOL)

Painted in 2007

Acrylic and enamel on canvas

145.2 x 145.2 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 4,500,000 - 6,500,000

Infinite dots, abstract landscape and enormous pumpkins are all important subject matters for Yayoi Kusama‟s

to express her creative ideas and the philosophy of her practice. Kusama uses „nets‟ and „dots‟ to practice her

illusory art of endless repetition and proliferation. In the work „Mt. Fuji (QPWE)‟, the flat surface, centralized

composition, and the repeated use of geometric shapes represent the critical thinking of the artist at each

stage of the painting process. „Dots & Dots (QASTOL)’ represents the infinity of eternal time and the

absoluteness of the universe through a process of eliminating concrete boundaries by means of dots,

incarnating the notion of “dissolving the Self; back to the natural states of the universe”.

Lot 190 YAYOI KUSAMA Pumpkin Executed in 2011 Urethane paint on fiberglass reinforced plastic sculpture 175 x 180 x 190 cm. Estimate: HK$ 9,000,000 – 15,000,000

7

In „Pumpkin‟, Kusama‟s signature composition of black dots against a yellow background can be found. Dots drawn by hand are systematically laid out on an uneven surface following the shape of the pumpkin. The protruding facets are covered with bigger black dots with less density to enhance the three-dimensionality, whereas the hollow parts contain relatively smaller dots disposed more densely to imply a sense of „shrinking inwards‟. The size of dots enlarges and reduces gradually. The layered evolution in cycles outlines the organic shape and emphasizes the form of petals. The work symbolizes the infinite power of reproductions, which is a notion always reoccupying the artists, showing the artist‟s pursuit and persistence of art. Poly Auction Hong Kong presents three signature works of Kusama, they signify her concept of endless artistic creation. The three pieces can be seen as a transition in her engagement of form from flatness to three-dimensionality.

Return of the Classics

In addition, we will present works of several pioneers in the development of modern Chinese oil painting in the

period of the Republic of China. For more than two decades, these rare paintings were preserved under a

sealed market but with orderly publishing records. They can be seen as the epitomes of modern Chinese art of

the 20th century, while showing influence from Western modernism. A complete form of this kind of works is

extremely rare to survive after the war. Our “Return of the Classics” special auction includes works by masters

such as Zhang Chongren, Zhou Bichu, Li Chaoshi, Wang Yachen, Yee Bon, Lu Shibai, Hu Shanyu, and Lin

Dachuan. These works use traditional Chinese aesthetics as their foundation with various styles absorbed from

different regions, redefine the magnificent history of art in the centenary progress of Chinese modern oil

paintings.

Lot 137 ZHANG CHONGREN Spring Herd Oil on masonite

96.3 x 152.5 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 900,000 - 1,300,000

Zhang Chongren is one of the most important figures in Chinese modern art. The huge scale of the „Spring Herd‟ is rarely seen in other creations by Zhang or by his contemporary artists, reflecting the artistic challenge and expectation Zhang held for himself. The densely staggered lines reflect what the artist noted, that he was affected by his “parents‟ sculptures and embroideries as a child.” This painting uses a laid-back shepherd boy as the focus to reflect the leisurely and idyllic pastoral life in Chinese landscape painting.

8

The Development and Transformation of Contemporary Chinese Art

Lot 196 ZENG FANZHI Portrait with White Coat Painted in 2002

Oil on canvas

120 x 60 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 2,800,000 -

3,600,000

Zeng Fanzhi‟s depiction of figure is highly stylized and powerful. His work often projects a tunnel into deeper thinking and the use of symbolism. The figure in the white robe in Portrait with White Coat might be Zeng‟s improvisation to emphasize the melancholic void in the work, a miniature representation of one‟s personality during the post-2000 era, when China‟s economy skyrocketed. Reviewing Zeng‟s creative life, one will discover that his earlier works contain direct and intense emotions, but they were later numbed as the painter accepted the social reality. Later, the painter again reassessed himself, shaping an even more realistic spiritual form. When he faces life and the experiences it brings, Zeng keeps trying to break through constraints, to challenge himself, and to create a new peak for his achievement in art.

Lot 191 ZHANG XIAOGANG Amnesia and Memory: Notes Painted in 2003

Oil on canvas

120 x 150 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 2,500,000 -

3,500,000

In 2003, Zhang started to adopt the ways of still life painting to reinterpret „Amnesia and Memory‟ series. He replaced the portraits of figures with items such as light bulbs, flashlights, notes, beds, and TV sets. „Amnesia and Memory : Notes‟ from the same year is one of the first works from this series that inherited from the past and opened up a new era. Through depicting letters, fountain pens, and words, all items that can convey feelings, he demonstrates the pain of being apart from his family. As an extension from his previous „Bloodline: Big Family‟ series, the „Amnesia and Memory‟ series is a strikingly documentation of the artists uncanny yet shockingly tender personal emotions towards every details worth remembering in the banality of life.

9

Lot 197 LIU XIAODONG

Painted in 2011

Oil on canvas

149.7 x 140.2 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 2,000,000 -

3,000,000

„√3‟ represents a teenager from Liu Xiaodong's hometown of Jincheng. The teenager portrayed in this painting is the product of a generation immersed in consumerism and he has found himself caught in the whirlpool of this time period. It is as though he desires to leave the small town to seek freedom and opportunity yet his fear of stress causes him to feel nostalgic for the days he spent in his hometown. In a way „√3‟ can be read as a self-portrait of Liu, even more so a visual and written portrayal of introspection. It is a prime example of Liu's exemplary commentary on adolescence in modern society.

In the Autumn Auctions, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art department will reveal „Pure and Solemn – an

important private collection of Yongle Imperial Buddhist Sculpture‟ which will include 11 bronze figures

from the Yongle period. Many of these works are the only examples left for sale and are highly anticipated in

the category. This special selection constitutes the largest and most comprehensive presentation of bronze

figures from the Yongle period for a decade. A gilt bronze figure of Vajrabhairava Yamantaka from the

Yongle period will be presented.

Renowned collector Baron Guy Ullens will once again collaborate with Poly Auction to present „The Important

Chinese Gold from Mr. Guy Ullens Collection‟, showcasing over ten pieces of important antique Chinese

gold wares. This collection is the last systematic collection of its kind which comes as a result of Ullens‟

unparalleled historic collecting in the field of Chinese antiquities, making it an exciting and unique collection to

behold.

The Meiyintang Collection and ceramics collections from European and American collectors will showcase a

Ru-type bronze-form footed-cup, HU. There will also be historical pieces of works of bronze, ceramics and

jade; as well as over a hundred pieces of porcelains, lacquerware, jade and miscellaneous works from the

Ming and Qing dynasty to provide collectors with an overview of exquisite works of Chinese ceramics and

works of art.

Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art

10

„Pure and Solemn – an important private collection of Yongle Imperial Buddhist

Sculpture‟

Lot 3206

A gilt bronze figure of Vajrabhairava -

Yamantaka

Mark and period of yongle, 1403-1424

H 20 cm Estimate: HK$ 50,000,000 - 70,000,000

Vajrabhairava Yamantaka, the conqueror of the Lord of Death, is exceptionally well cast with delicate

details and features. Standing on the decumbent deities and animals in pratyalidhasana, the deity with

nine heads in total, the central being that of a bull with bulging eyes, growling mouth and flared nostrils,

its horns reaching up on either side of two heads, respectively the head of Yamantaka in peaceful

appearance, and the head of Manjusri on top, both were encased in his red flaming hair. The

vajrabhairava stands on an oval double lotus pedestal, with "Da Ming Yongle Nian Shi" inscribed, the

base is engraved with crossed vajra. There is no existing gilt-bronze of freestanding Vajrabhairava with

Yongle mark recorded.

This work was first shown in public at the exhibition „Defining Yongle: Imperial Art in Early Fifteenth-

Century China‟ at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York in 2005 and was also included in the

exhibition catalogue.

Lot 3204

A gilt bronze figure of Chakrasamvara

Mark and period of Yongle, 1403-1424

H 21cm

Estimate: HK$ 22,000,000 - 28,000,000

11

Chakrasamvara is one of the most popular deities in Tantric Buddhism in the Himalayan regions. This

magnificent example depicts the Chakrasamvara and his consort Vajravarahi standing in embrace, the

deity with four faces and the third eye, wearing an elaborate bodhisattva crown. Chakrasamvara has six

arms, with the principal pairs in prajnalinganabhinaya mudra, clasping a vajra and ghanta behind his

consort, the other hands in various mudras grasping respective attributes. He is wearing a beaded sash

and garlands of skulls and severed heads, with a separate elephant's skin stretched behind his back,

supported by a separated single lotus pedestal, inscribed "Da Ming Yongle Nian Shi";the base is

engraved with a visvavajra.

The Meiyintang Collection

Lot 3024 A Ru-type bronze-form footed-cup, HU Mark and period of Yongzheng, 1723-1735 H 26.9 cm Estimate: HK$ 2,600,000 - 3,600,000

This finely potted square Hu-shaped vase rises from the tall flaring foot towards the everted rim, and is

encircled by two pairs of raised band below two tube handles. The vase is covered allover in a lustrous

pale bluish-green glaze suffused with a fine, clear crackle.

The present vase successfully combines two archaistic elements in imitating square Hu from Zhou

Dynasty and Ru glazed vase in Song Dynasty, suggesting that the Emperor‟s taste in pursuit of the

elegance of ceramics. Similar Yongzheng marked examples are known, including one sold at Sotheby‟s

Hong Kong, 23 October 2005, lot 319, also comparable to a Yongzheng marked Ge-type glazed variant

in the National Palace Museum, Taipei.

Lot 3034 A fine yellow-ground 'bats' bowl Yongzheng period, 1723-1735 H 7 cm D 15.2 cm Estimate: HK$ 3,500,000 - 4,500,000

12

This bowl is thinly potted with deep rounded sides supported on a splayed foot, the exterior finely incised

with twelve bats, each grasping in its mouth a beribboned double gourd and flying amidst scrolling

clouds, between ruyi heads at the rim and a lappet band at the foot, coloured in green and white, the

bats picked out in iron red, the ribbons in blue and the gourds with brown spots, and reserved on a pale

yellow ground repeated on the interior, save for the white base inscribed with a six-character reign mark

in underglaze blue within double circles. A similar bowl in the Palace Museum, Beijing has been

published in The Complete Collection of Treasures of the Palace Museum. Porcelains with Cloisonne

Enamel Decoration and Famille Rose Decoration, Hong Kong, 1999, pl. 83.

Lot 3136

An archaic bronze wine vessel and cover,

YOU

Western Zhou dynasty, 1046-771 B.C.

H 34.5 cm

Estimate: HK$ 3,200,000 - 4,500,000

The pear-shaped, swelling body the details on this vessel symmetrically portraya phoenix pattern on both sides of the bronze, with belt-like crucifix-shaped lines running across the belly. A beast head in low relief dominates the band, depicting a rare form possessing two ox horns. The swing handle is fully decorated on its outer surface with a fierce animal mask sporting large curled horns, bulbous eyes, and a broad snout at terminals of each side. A bronze vessel of such a magnificent green color is extremely rare indicating this was an important piece during the Western Zhou dynasty.

„The Important Chinese Gold from Mr. Guy Ullens Collection‟

Lot 3304 A Set of Gold Crown and Ornaments Gold, Coloured Glass VarIous Size Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 A.D.) Provenance:Acquired from Gisèle Croës in 2001

Estimate Upon Request

13

This ensemble is made up of a crown-headdress that includes a domed oval skullcap that measures 15 by 9.5cm. It is extended by two lateral strips to which are attached, by three rings, flexible lateral additions decorated with a strip. This third strip becomes bifid where it meets a rose that contains cabochons, before slotting into the carved notches in a section that forms a sort of band surrounding the base of the headdress.

Classical Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy will present the work by Ming Dynasty painter Wang Fu, with his

most significant and valuable ink painting „Old Trees‟. The Chinese Paintings Department will also present a

number of important Modern masters, including Fu Baoshi‟s large-scale work „Looking Up to the Towering

Mountain‟, Zhang Daqian‟s „Reading Inside The Cottage‟, Huang Zhou‟s „Horses Riding‟ which is

recommended by Huang Zhou Art Foundation, „Riding Horse‟, such large scale fan piece is rarely seen in the

last four decades, and the important works by Huang Binhong such as „Landscape in Yangshuo‟ and many

more.

In addition, the „Inkprovise: Contemporary Ink Art‟ sale encompasses works of the most significant masters

from the 20th century to the present. When facing the clash of China and the West for the first time, the earlier

pioneers, such as Wu Guanzhong and Lin Fengmian, introduced modern Western expressive methods and

incorporated them into Chinese traditional ink art. Subsequently, artists such as He Baili Fang Zhaolin and

other artists who resided in Hong Kong, discovered a unique artistic language combining Chinese and the

Western aesthetics, laying the foundation for Hong Kong‟s modern art. Contemporary artists Xu Lei, Qin Ai,

Jiang Ji‟an, and many more employ ink as the medium of their social observation. Younger artists such as Ma

Lingli continue the experimentation of blending contemporary art with ink art. Regardless of era and region, ink

is all along the essence of Chinese convention.

Autumn Auction will also present themed session, „Glossiness of Uncarved Jade – Special Auction of Cui

Ruzhuo [Ⅸ]’, comprising of works that show his master skills and techniques. The piece „Sound of the Lotus‟s

estimation is upon request, all the other pieces in this special auction reach the total low estimation of 355

million HKD. Cui manages to find a junction point between traditional Chinese and modern cultures, and thus

regenerate in the new artistic context. His works, which are vigorous and majestic, open the door to the world

of rhythmic vitality.

Chinese Paintings

14

Classical Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy

Lot 724 WANG FU Old Trees Ink on paper, mounted Painted in 1404 68.5 x 31.5cm. Estimate: HK$ 8,000,000 - 10,000,000

Wang Fu‟s „Old Trees‟ (1404) was once preserved by Qing Dynasty‟s royal family and placed in the Palace

of Yanxi. It has the imperial seal of Emperor Jiaqing, and was documented in the Qing Dynasty catalog „Shi

Qu Bao Ji‟ Part 3, Volume 1. It was also recorded in „Revised Chinese Paintings Chronology‟ and „Revised

Chinese Paintings Collections by Qing‟ written by Xu Bangda. This painting was considered as one of the

most significant works created by Wang Fu during his later years. Wang‟s unique illustrations, elaborate

composition and unrestrained methodology lies at the heart of his distinctive artistic vision. Throughout

history, the painting had been discreetly preserved by renowned collector Zhu Zhichu in Ming Dynasty and

Feng Gongdu in Qing Dynasty.

15

Fine Modern Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy

Lot 417 FU BAOSHI Looking Up to the Towering Mountain Ink and colour on paper, mounted

Painted in 1962

177 x 97cm.

Estimate Upon Request

In the early 1960s, Fu Baoshi had reached the peak of his artistic career. The painting „Looking Up to the

Towering Mountain‟ was created right before he moved to Hangzhou, and was collected by a renowned

book store, the ‟International Bookstore‟, (now known as „China International Book Trading Corporation‟). It

was once recorded in „Artworks Collection by Fu Baoshi‟. Arguably considered as one of the most

magnificent artwork created by Fu, it was exhibited in 1984 at the „Modern Chinese Paintings and

Calligraphy Exhibition‟ co-hosted by China International Bookstore‟ and Tsi Ku Chai in Hong Kong, where it

was published as the cover image for the accompanying exhibition catalog. Under the influence of the late

masters, Fu Baoshi's landscape paintings not only illustrated the magnificent beauty of nature but also

celebrated his pioneering contribution to Chinese ink paintings

16

Lot 415

XU BEIHONG Eight Horses Galloping Ink and colour on paper, mounted, painted in 1946 Calligraphy: 23x45.5 cm. Painting: 89x45.5 cm.

Estimate: HK$ 5,800,000 - 8,800,000

Two Magnificent Masters in Poem and Chinese Paintings Presented A Legend in Literature History.

The inscription written by Guo for the painting reads, „The eight horses were at large, feels like thousands of horses were galloping. Their tails brought windy air and their look was majestic. Horses were chasing after the wind like lightning, whenever their footage reached, they created a heavy impact. I‟m expecting a hero to manipulate these creatures.‟ The two the biographies featured Guo Muoruo have specific record of this inscription, which is rarely seen.

The eight horses were presented in a horizontal way. They come far away from the skyline. The ones nearer to us are bigger and those far from us are smaller. His lines and ink were splashed according to the composition of the horses‟ body. The shades were matching perfectly with the blank part, which presents a quaint beauty of the scene. This picture was exquisite, concise and neat. Fully expressed Xu‟s gifted talent in art and delicately showed his art preference. He advocates assimilating the realism into the idealism of Chinese paintings. He also insists renovating Chinese paintings in different ways.

Lot 420 HUANG BINHONG Landscape in Yangshuo

Ink and color on paper，hanging scroll

96 x 31.5cm.

Estimate: HK$ 1,500,000 - 2,500,000

17

There was a saying in modern history in China, that we have „Huang in southern part China and boasts Qi in northern part China. „Qi‟ refers to the renowned Chinese paintings master Qi baishi who lived in Beijing, and „Huang‟ refers to another famous artist who‟s known as Huang binhong, in Zhejiang Province. Mr. Huang travelled around China during his entire life, he focused on field trip portrait and created an unprecedented atmosphere in Chinese art history. Among the collection of his artworks we present in this season‟s auction. ‟Landscape in Yangshuo‟ was painted in 1949, and it was one of his most sophisticated artworks during his later life. It was when Chinese new government was established and the entire environment emerged. „Landscape In Yangshuo‟ is a magnificent work that illustrated the mighty of both the mountain and the river. This mighty was exactly the goal he pursued during his later creating period.

Inkprovise: Contemporary Ink Art

Lot 486 WU GUANZHONG Life Painted in 1993

Mounted; ink and color on paper

68.5 x 137cm.

Estimate: HK$ 4,000,000 - 7,000,000

In the work Life, the expression and color scheme of the picture resembles the common pattern of Western modern abstract expressionism oil painting, however the medium is substituted by water and ink with rich variations. This is Wu Guanzhong‟s reconstruction of ancient Chinese ink art, by adding formal and abstract beauty to the picture. This is also the distinct art style he developed.

Painted with light ink, the entire background color of Time is grey. Above it are bushy branches and leaves that are depicted with thick ink. The branches and leaves are stretching toward all directions and extending to the space outside the picture. In the white space in between the thick ink branches, dots of various colors – blue, green, yellow and pink scatter around.

Lot 487 WU GUANZHONG Wall Painted in 1993

Mounted; ink and color on paper

68.5 x 137.5cm.

Estimate: HK$ 5,000,000 - 8,000,000

Wall, the ink painting created in 1993, was one particular demonstration of Wu Guanzhong's unique art style. It portrayed a large area of white walls dotted with scattered black tiles, the misty clouds floating among the sky, and the unique beauty of Jiangnan architecture by some swift and simple strokes. The white walls were covered with dense woodbine. The winding branches, whether strong as pythons or weak as silk, showed great tenacity, as if about to break through the limitation of the walls and the paper, stretching to a wider world.

18

Lot 488 WU GUANZHONG Spring Memory Painted in 1980s

Mounted; ink on paper

50 x 45.5cm.

Estimate: HK$ 2,000,000 - 3,000,000

Spring Memory is the full and perfect demonstration of Wu‟s artistic appeal of “formal beauty” and his distinct

artistic language combining Chinese traditional ink art and Western modern art. The interconnected dots,

lines and surfaces, the irregularly scattered black, white and colors all together consist a harmonious

symphony.

Lot 510 HE BAILI Waterfall in the Mountains

painted in 2017 66.5×138 cm mounted; ink and color on paper Estimate: HK$ 650,000-850,000

As the leading ink artist from Hong Kong, He Baili prefers to paint from life and mental cultivation. It is to say that he would choose his preferred object and only in this way could he feel engaged and inspired. He also considers nothing but “change” stands for the eternity of art. Waterfall in the Mountains, in particular, is a painting of huge dimension. Portrayed with splash-ink, the picture is filled with greenness, water mist and artistic appeal.

Lot 489 XU LEI Worldview – Clothing

Painted in 2007

Framed; ink and color on paper

66 x 132cm.

Estimate: HK$ 2,000,000 - 3,000,000

Xu Lei created a three-dimensional illusion in his work „Worldview’. There are all kinds of terms and phrases

19

scattered all over the world map in the picture. The phrase “carrying quilt and sheet” is extracted from „The Book of Songs’, while the other phrase “embroidered grown of various colors” originates from a Song Dynasty poetry. Ancient vocabularies of clothing in Chinese history such as “foreign hats”, “captain‟s headdress”, “curving collar with rectangular decoration”, “casual grown”, “black silk”, and serves the purpose of constructing a conversation with the gown in the middle.

Glossiness of Uncarved Jade – Special Auction of Cui Ruzhuo [Ⅸ]

Lot 1211

ZUI RUZHUO Sound of Lotus Painted in 2013

Mounted; ink and color on paper

143 x 524cm.

Estimate Upon Request

Poly Auction (Hong Kong) willintroduce a special auction featuring Cui Ruzhuo‟s artworks, entitled ‘Glossiness of Uncarved Jade – Special Auction of Cui Ruzhuo [IX]’ including various masterpieces painted with “jimo” or finger ink techniques, notably the huge piece „Sound of Lotus’, standing at 7.5 square meters large. The lotuses of various shapes are shaded by leaves depicted with “jimo” technique. On the other side, a boulder stands erect sharply contrasting with the swaying lotus leaves, contrast with the swaying lotus leaves. The title „Sound of Lotus’ aims to capture rich multi-senses besides vision alone, creating an immersive experience.

Lot 1205 CUI RUZHUO Spring Scenery Painted in 2013 Mounted; ink and color on paper 143×289.5cm. Estimate: HK$ 36,000,000 - 42,000,000

The work depicts an atmospheric scene of pouring spring rain colouring the misty mountains in red flowers that were splashed down from the cherry blossom trees. A small boat beside the shore and housings beneath the mountains offset great depth with the use of aerial perspective in distanced air, creating a poetic

20

and vibrant image.

Lot 1207 CUI RUZHUO

Withered Lotus Painted in 2016

Mounted; Ink and color on paper 547.5 x 66 cm

Estimate: HK$ 32,000,000 - 37,000,000

This 5-metre long stroll portrays a lotus pond in reckless form painted in an elegant colour scheme. The brushstrokes seemingly recalls the way Chinese master Pan Tianshuo paints plantations, yet it is added another unique layer through creative treatment of Cui.

Following the strong sales of the fifth anniversary Spring Auction, Poly Auction Hong Kong‟s Jewels and

Prestige Collection department has chosen lots with a stringent selection process. Precious gems such as

Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald will be at the highest quality in their category, displaying the best color and

dazzle. Jewelry from international jewelry brands including Harry Winston, Van Cleef & Arpels and Graff

Diamonds will also be presented, providing an opportunity for important jewelry collectors to collect precious

design jewelry.

For Jade, this auction will include excellent quality jade pieces that have received the highest level

International Gem Laboratory accreditation certificate. A series of jewelry from both renowned and emerging

young designers will also be presented, showcasing the charm of jewelry from different perspectives.

Noble Handbags and Accessories will bring together the rarest handbags from around the world including a

custom made shiny rose scheherazade & emeraude bi-color niloticus crocodile sellier Kelly 28 with brushed

gold hardware; a extremely rare rose scheherazade lizard birkin 30 with gold hardware, a limited edition matte

SO BLACK niloticus crocodile retourne Kelly 32 with black hardware and a rare matte so black niloticus

crocodile retourne Kelly 32 with black hardware.

A series of rare and valuable wrist watches and delicate clocks such as Patek Phillipe, Richard Mille, Jaeger-

LeCoultre and A. Lange & Söhne will also be shown. In addition to the complicated functional series “minute

repeater” and dedicated crafted “Cloisonne enamel” watches, the section will also show limited edition

watches, jewelry watches and rare antique collections.

Jewels and Prestige Collections

21

Magnificent Jewels

Lot 2138

An Extraordinary set of „Imperial Green‟ Jadeite Cabochon and Diamond Jewelry

Comprising a necklace, the chain set with ten oval jadeite cabochons of intense green and high translucency, spaced by a line of three brilliant-cut diamonds; a pair of earrings en-suite set with two jadeite cabochons of similar material; all mounted in 18K gold, the jadeite cabochon weighing from 19.654 to 15.482 carats, measuring from 19.28 x 15.56 x 8.75 mm to 17.30 x 15.43 x 7.98 mm, necklace approximately 42.5 cm long, earrings 2.5 cm long.

Estimate Upon Request

We are honored in this auction to offer this set of necklace and earrings with twelve smoothly carved and

perfectly matched jadeite cabochons. It showcases the absolute finest-quality of jadeites – almost transparent

with a vibrant and vivid green color. The combination of these qualities is known as “Imperial Jade”, as

opinions from both prestigious gemological laboratories SSEF and Gübelin confirm in their reports. The color is

pure and penetrating, a vivid hue with no hint of gray that looks bright and intensive even from a distance. The

texture of the best jadeite so fine that it appears semitransparent – the texture you can read through it would

be slightly blurred. It is created by tight interlocking crystals and an absense of any impurities such as veins

and cloudiness. With light entering and penetrating below the surface of the stone, semitransparent jadeite like

this display an alluring brilliance. It almost appears to glow, intensifying the charm of the lush green color even

further.

Lot 2119

An extraordinary suite of Colombian emerald and diamond jewelry Accompanied with 17 Gübelin gemological reports, details see table

Estimate: HK$ 22,000,000-28,000,000

22

Comprising a necklace, set with a series of twelve graduated rectangular-shaped emeralds weighing from 3.50 to 15.71 carats, to the necklace set with pear-, marquise-, and rectangular-shaped diamonds; a pair of matching ear pendants, similarly set with four rectangular-shaped emeralds weighing from 4.00 to 8.29 carats; and a matching ring set with a rectangular-shaped emerald weighing 13.96 carats, to the surmount and shoulders set with pear- and rectangular- shaped diamonds; all emeralds weigh 124.79 carats in total, all diamonds weigh 99.18 carats in total; necklace approximately 44.2 cm long, ear pendants approximately 6.1 cm long, ring size 6 ½

One would have needed extraordinary patience and luck to have acquired, and matched, the seventeen

exceptionally magnificent Colombian emeralds in this set of jewelry. The total weight of all emeralds

mounted in this set reaches 124.79 carats, with twelve of them exceeding 5.00 carats. The center stone on

the necklace weigh 15.71 carats and on the ring 13.96, magnificent sizes in their own right. The design has

incorporated is a superior level of craftsmanship where the octagonal-shaped gemstones exhibit a refined

and well-proportioned cut, accumulating into a masterpiece of high brilliance and light return. The emeralds

are sumptuously surmounted by variously shaped diamonds, many exceeding 1.00 carat each. Of

considerable size, high clarity, refined cut and remarkable color, this set of emerald and diamond jewelry is

an incredibly extraordinary and unique piece.

Lot 2024 A 23.49 carat Burmese „royal blue‟ sapphire and diamond ring, by Van Cleef & Arpels Centering upon an oval-shaped sapphire weighing 23.49 carats, flanked by two pear-shaped diamonds, mounted in platinum, ring size 6 ¾ Signed Van Cleef & Arpels, no. 127732 Estimate: HK$ 6,800,000-9,800,000

This is a unique sapphire ring set by the exquisite French jeweler - Van Cleef & Arpels. The center stone of

this piece is a 23.49 carat sapphire from Burma. Burmese sapphires can command some of the highest

prices on the sapphire market. Color is the single most influential quality factor affecting the value of a

sapphire. Due to trace elements iron and titanium, Burma‟s deposits produce sapphires of rich and intense

hue, which stones from other sources are judged against. The most treasured color is „Royal Blue‟, a deep

yet intensely vivid hue with very strong saturation, a color that has always been the most desired by royal

families across the world. This sapphire is one of the most extraordinary examples of such quality.

Remarkably, the stone has not gone through any heat treatment to enhance its color and clarity, a quality

that marks its rareness and extremely high market value, stranding out from all its peers.

23

“Ruyi Treasure Bowl” is an auspicious object that has its stories passed on through the history of Chinese

folklore. It is believed to represent endless wealth and thrifty characters. It is a thrilling experience to see

such a large piece of the best quality jadeite. Its full and graceful form reaches a size measuring 57.90 x

31.31 x 13.31 mm. In terms of all length, width, and depth it is one of the largest ever seen in international

auctions. It showcases jadeites‟ unique beauty with its delicate texture, excellent translucency, and vivid

green color. Its inherent internal structure is very fine and it allows a perfect light reflection inside its body.

Lot 2072 An exceptional jadeite "Treasure Ruyi Bowl" pendant Suspending a jadeite of intense green color and high translucency, weighing 280.52 carats, carved as a "treasure bowl" with ruyi atop, to a lavender jadeite bead surmount, plaque approximately 57.90 x 31.31 mm, thickness 13.31 mm.

Accompanied by report no. KJ96160 dated 4 August 2017 from the Hong Kong Jade & Stone Laboratory stating that the jadeite tested is natural, known in the trade as “A Jade”

Estimate: HK$ 13,000,000-18,000,000

Important Watches

Lot 2640

Richard Mille

An Artistic Creation And Extremely Rare, Special Edition White Gold Baguette Diamond-Set Tonneau-Shaped Skeletonised Tourbillon Mechanical Wristwatch, With Hand Engraved 3-Dimensional Tiger And Dragon, To Celebrate „Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon II‟, Rm 51-01, Possibly Unique, Circa 2017 Estimate Upon Request

Richard Mille Rm051-01 combines element of Eastern aesthetics from famous Chinese movie “Crouching

Tiger Hidden Dragon II”. Visible mechanical structure and delicate depictions of a tiger and a dragon merge

with the spinning tourbillion in the middle. A Black-and-white Tai Chi pattern is engraved on the back of the

watch, presenting the notion of the opposing Yin and Yang in ancient Chinese philosophy. Moreover, this

24

unique masterpiece is fully covered with more than 200 square-cut diamonds on the case, with a total

weight of 18.75 carats, serves the watch a sensational overall effect.

Lot 2541 Patek Phillippe A very fine and rare limited edition platinum rectangular mechanical wristwatch with

cloisonné enamel,「Tiger」, ref. 5076/100p-015,

circa 2008 Estimate: HK$ 500,000 - 800,000

Patek Philippe has a tradition of creating distinguished enamel watches. For ref. 5076/100P-015, the

enameller uses cloisonné technique to present a life-like tiger that is jumping out of the bush. on the lowest

layer of the ename, a gold wire less than 0.5 mm in diameter is bent to form the image and fixed to the dial.

After the first firing, the paste is applied to the areas to be enameled and fired at temperatures of more than

800°C. Each firing makes the colour more transparent and intense, each time presenting a more vibrant and

dynamic tiger. Only five watches with dials depicting the lively tiger were introduced in 2008, which makes

this timepiece a precious collectible

Noble Handbags and Accessories

Lot 2368 A limited edition matte SO BLACK niloticus crocodile retourne Kelly 32 with black hardware Hermès 2010 Estimate: HK$ 400,000 - 700,000

This „matte SO BLACK niloticus crocodile retourne Kelly 32‟ was designed by Hermes‟ designer Jean Paul Gaultier for the Autumn/ Fall collection in 2010-2011 and it was extremely limited. The new design has subverted Hermes‟ design concept of using orange as the key color. And the idea of using black with the concept of “eclipse” to show the handbag‟s subtle beauty and elegancy were new to the market. It created an all-black trend in the fashion industry when it was first launched into the market. As SO BLACK series

25

stopped its production very short time after its‟ launch, it is very rare to find in the market.

Lot 2383 A custom shiny rose scheherazade & emeraude bi-color niloticus crocodile sellier Kelly 28 with brushed gold hardware Hermès 2017 Estimate HK$ 400,000-700,000

Hermes‟, has long been recognized as a leading haute couture label, and the use of colours was traditionally strictly controlled. Leather and color were accordingly based on the change of season. This remarkable crocodile Kelly bag features the rarest color, with rose red and emerald, making it one of the most valuable bags of its kind.

Fine Wine and Whisky

Lot 1986 The Macallan in Lalique Collection Estimate: HK$ 3,000,000-4,500,000

Macallan and renowned crystal brand Lalique co-launched their first set of product in 2005 – The Macallan in Lalique I - 50 Years. In 2016, the last bottle of this series The Macallan in Lalique VI - 65 Years was finally released. After over 11 years of waiting, the full set of six crystal decanters of whisky perfectly represents the Six Pillar theory of The Macallan Distillerty.

26

Lot 1604 Kweichow MOUTAI Spirit‟s “Sky Flying” Brand of 1983-1984 (Yellow Glaze Porcelain Bottle) Quantity: One bottle Alcohol Content: About 55° Volume: 540 ml Estimate: HK$ 115,000 - 173,000

The yellow glazed Moutai was a special product in the 1980s as it was the wine specially provided to state ban- quets. As a high-end product not meant for sale, it was a nonesuch in the old Moutai spirits of the 1980s. This group of auction items is in a good condition, bearing the features of an outstanding saucy mouthfeel, rich and thick wine body, lasting aftertaste and long-lasting fra- grance even in the empty cup.

For high-resolution images, please visit:

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/hfmkmz5i3gcmskx/AACGZADaYZnFmazJpRH6-RTka?dl=0

27

Note to the Editor

About Poly Auction Hong Kong Poly Auction (Hong Kong) Limited (Poly Auction Hong Kong), established in 2012 by Poly Culture Group Corp. Ltd., is a young but remarkable auction house in Hong Kong and the Asia Pacific region. Beijing Poly International Auction, a subsidiary of Poly Culture Group Corp Ltd., is China‟s largest state-owned auction house and holds the highest auction transaction volume of Chinese art in the world. Poly Auction Hong Kong has repeatedly achieved record auction results over the past two years, and the 2016 Spring and Autumn Auctions witnessed a total transaction sum of HK$2.4 billion. The 2017 Spring Auctions also ended on a high note of HK$1.245 billion. Poly Auction (Hong Kong) comprises of four departments: Modern and Contemporary Art, Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy, Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art, and Jewels and Prestige Collections. We select only genuine, exquisite and rare artwork. We are entering the international art market with the aim to provide professional consultation, exceptional collections and the highest quality service. Poly Auction has a global network of offices, including Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Macao, Xiamen, Shandong, Taipei, Tokyo, New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sydney and Melbourne. Auction schedule

Date Time Actions

1 October 2:00pm Vintage Moutai, Cognac, Whisky and Fine Wine

2 October

11:00am Modern and Contemporary Art

1:30pm Magnificent Jewels

2:00pm Chinese Ceramics and Works of Art

4:00pm Pure and Solemn - An Important Private Collection of Yongle Imperial Buddhist Sculptures

Postpone The Important Chinese Gold from Mr. Guy Ullens Collection

3 October

9:45am Fine Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy [I]

11:00am Noble Handbags and Accessories

1:30pm Glossiness of Uncarved Jade – Special Auction of Cui Ruzhuo

1:30pm Fine Chinese Paintings and Calligraphy [II]

3:00pm Important Watches

Venue : Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong

*Auction previews start on 30 September, end on 3 October.

Official Website: http://www.polyauction.com.hk WeChat account: polyauction – hongkong Facebook: Poly Auction Hong Kong Instagram: polyauctionhk

THE END